Improvement in fasteners for the meeting-rails of sashes



I J. R. DEWEESE. FASTENER FOR THE MEETING-RAILS 0F SASHES.

Patented Nov. 30,1875.

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'A 7Z6 in (2% EH5 PHOTO LITHOGMPHER WASHINGTON D C UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH R. DEWEESE, OF DAYTON, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN FASTENERS FOR THE MEETING-RAILS OF SASHES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 170.472, dated November 30,1875; application filed May 11, 1875.

( To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JosEPH R. DEWEESE, of Dayton, in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Fasteners for the Meeting-Rails of Window-Sashes; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description of the same, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

The object of my invention is to provide a fastening for the meeting-rails of a window sash that shall be very secure, and at the same time serve as a clamp to bind the rails together, and prevent the sashes from rat tling.

It consists in the combination and arrangement of two semi-elliptical bearing-plates, securely attached one to each meeting-rail, and provided with a pivoted swinging latch, which, when turned, overlaps the edges of the plates, and acts as a clamp to bind the rails together, and also in some minor de tails, which will be described, and the invention distinctly pointed out in the claim.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to which my invention appertains to make and use it, I would thus describe it, referring to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a perspective view of my improved fastener applied to a broken portion of the meeting-rails of a window-sash. Figs. 2, 3, 4, and 5 areviews of the several parts, that will be referred to respectively.

Two semi-elliptical bearing-pieces, A and B, are attached in any suitable manner to, or form part of, two plates, 0 and D, which are secured upon the top of the meeting-rails in such a manner that the tops of the two parts form an ellipse, and the joint corresponds with the joint of the rails, as seen in Fig. 1. Pivoted vertically in the piece A, as near its straight edge as possible, is a thumb-piece, E, the upper portion of which may be ornamented in any manner, or made to represent various figures. The shape of the lower portion of this piece is best represented in Fig. 3, where a. a are two projecting shoulders, with inclined inner sides, that embrace the sides of the parts A and B, similarly inclined. The pivot of the thumb-piece works in bearings formed by the partA and a face-plate, F, that is mortised in the inner side of the rear rail, and secured to it by screws, and to the part A by placed a spring, 6, Figs. 4 and 5, which acts againstanirregularflange or shoulder, f, Fig. 5, and serves to hold the thumb-piece in .either of the two positions seen in Figs. 1 and 3. G, Fig. l, is a spring-latch pivoted upon the plate B at h, whose end bears against the shoulder a, of the thumb-piece, and holds it rigidly, and any kind of spring may be employed to operate it.

The advantages and operation of my improved fastener are these? When the sashes are in position, and it is desirable to fasten them, the thumb piece is turned upon its pivot, and gradually embraces the sides of the semi-elliptical bearings until the rails are clamped or brought closely together. Being turned past the spring-latch G, it flies into the position represented in Fig. 1, and prevents the piece from being moved back except intentionally. A shoulder upon the side of the semi-elliptical bearing also prevents the further revolution of the thumb-piece in an opposite direction, so that the fastening is made complete. Upon releasing the spring-latch the piece E may be turned to its original position, and the window be opened. Additional strength is given the device by means of the face-place 1 which, when the sashes are closed, is inaccessible, and cannot be tampered with; also, by having the pivot as near, the joint as possible the strain, in attempting to force the window, is borne longitudinally by the plate F, and little or no leverage is obtained.

Having fully described my invention, I claim as new- The pivoted and notched swinging latch E, arranged as described, in combination with the semi-elliptical or cam-faced bearings A and B, and the spring-latchG, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

Witness my hand this 20th day of April, A. D. 1875.

JOSEPH R. DEWEESE. Witnesses:

Guns. M. PEcK, H. E. MEAD. 

